What am I looking for as per numbers on Swellinfo to know what is a good day and when should I stay home.  I've only been up to TC twice and both days were hook ups here so I never even took a look at the report.  I'm thinking of going Tuesday.  The report shows 1ft at 12sec.  That sounds pretty good to me but I've got another guy going with me for his first time and I don't want anything unexpected when we get there.

Anyone else planning on heading up Tuesday?

So my wife suddenly has to work on Sunday so my day with the boy at the Yakhopper event is out.  I have tomorrow to fish if I like though.  With winds at less than 5mph and a swell report of 3ft or less I'm thinking it's looking pretty good for tomorrow on the Sonoma Coast. 

I'm going to make a mad dash this afternoon to try and find a wetsuit for my 10yr old.  He's about 5' tall and 110lbs.  I'm thinking that he'd be in the largest youth wetsuit or a small adult suit.  We're going to hit Petaluma Dive Supply (b/c it's closest) but where else would likely have a good selection of suits in our area?  If I can find one to fit him he'll be riding on the back of my Pro Angler in the morning for his first jigging trip. 

If we can't find one he'll still be on the back of the PA tomorrow but we'll likely be on Lake Sonoma instead!

Sin Coast asked about my livewell setup that I use in the bass tournaments that Ive been fishing here in NorCal.

I have a 52qt cooler with two bubbler boxes on the front to help with aeration.  There is also a 500 gal/hr bilge pump hooked to a piece of PVC on the inside of the cooler that fills the cooler while aerating the water.  I carry a small motorcycle battery to power the bilge pump and the bubbler boxes run off their own "D" cell batteries.  When I catch a fish I put a culling clip on him and stick him in the well.  Then simply set the pump overboard and clip the alligator clamp to the battery.  Once I have enough water in the well I turn the pump off and power on the bubbler boxes.  During long days of fishing I can change out the water by simply leaving the bilge pump on and letting the over flow tubes on the front do their job.  They are routed to the scupper holes so that anything else in my rear tank well stays dry.

It has worked great so far.  I've kept 18lbs of bass alive all day in the well with no issues.  In hot weather I add ice periodically and always use Rejuvenade additive!

Supposedly the calico bass population runs from Baha all the way up to Washington.  Have any of you ever seen, caught, or heard of them along the Sonoma Coast?

I'd love to catch one if they're around!

Looking to "get my feet wet" in the salt water here on the West coast.  I've been fishing from a Hobie Pro Angler for the last two years and don't have another boat at this time.  I'd love to be able to get out and chase lings and rockfish but don't have any interest in surf launching my PA.  The idea of turtling a boat this size is just not pleasant.  Is it possible to get out somewhere in the Bodega Bay area where a suf launch wouldn't be required?

What kind of distance would be required to find rockfish and ling?  I believe I've got all the tackle required, and I know I have all the appropriate safety gear.  I will have to pick up a wetsuit or dry suit before I make a go at it though. 

I'm looking to buy another boat this spring.  I was looking at getting a second Pro Angler but if I take a liking to the salt here I may get a Hobie Outback instead just bc I believe it would be easier to surf launch it.  I keep seeing all the pics of rockfish and hearing of delicious fish tacos and would like to get my hands on some too!!

I'm looking to hit the Delta Sunday morniń for some bass fishing.  This will be my first trip there since moving out here to Cali a few months ago.  Going to be launching somewhere down towards Bethel Island of anyone wants to join me.  I'm pretty open to different launches seeing as Ive never fished the area.  Will be getting down there before daylight and fishing till around 2pm or so.

You can get in touch with me here or text me at (904)412-4530

Matthew Brannon

So, I just moved to California in June.  I was very active in kayak tournaments back in Florida and fished both fresh and saltwater.  I was really looking forward to moving out here to NorCal and found a local bass club that allowed kayaks to fish.  They were a belly boat club here in Sonoma County that also allowed kick boats and kayaks.  So I built a livewell that conformed to the clubs rules and proceeded to enter there next tournament.  It was a night tournament on Lake Sonoma, a lake I had only fished one time before the event.  Upon arriving at the ramp and paying my entry fee I answered many questions about my 2012 Hobie Pro Angler 14.  Almost none of them had ever seen a Hobie mirage drive kayak before.  The general consensus was that it was a nice craft but that their kick boats were much more versatile.  I was the only kayak at the event but they had previously had kayakers fish with them.

I won the event.

So I was active on their forum posting reports and speaking of my anticipation of the next event being held this weekend at Lake Berryessa.  Tonight someone posted up a thread titled "Be Advised" which spoke of the clubs first rule.......


1.  All (club name removed) tournament fishing must be conducted from an inflatable float tube or kickboat (pontoon style) and kayaks. Tournament Anglers may not fish outside of their boats for any reason. Anglers must be floating in their boats while fishing. Anglers may not accept assistance from boats or other anglers to move about the body of water. Only fins and oars may power float tubes, kickboats and kayaks. The use of motors and sails is prohibited. Violation of this rule will result in Tournament disqualification.

They never actually named me so I inquired as to what the topic was about.  I had a feeling it was referring to me.  After emailing the club director I was informed that I was being disallowed to compete in their events due to the speed and distance the Mirage Drive provided me.  Apparently they don't really want kayaks competing as any kayak would have a speed and distance advantage over a kick boat.

So now I'm trying to find out what it would take to organize my own kayak bass fishing tournaments here in the Somoma County area as well as get a feel for how many folks would be interested.